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Fusing and Stained Glass Tips and FAQ's => Fusing Tips and FAQ's => Bullseye Glass => Topic started by: RLBrown on November 20, 2014, 11:16:02 AM

Title: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: RLBrown on November 20, 2014, 11:16:02 AM
Hi

I'm hoping a fellow hobbyfuser user can save me some time and glass.

I did my first solo fusing session the other day using the kilncare default program for a full fuse. It turned out well, except for the finger print. (I was in a hurry to get it going).

My next project I'd like a tack fuse and don't know what process temperature to use as a starting point.

It's a 3mm tekta with 3mm 'bits' on top. The huge hire kiln I was using I'd fire at 790C for 10 mins, but that seems a bit high as the full fuse temp is 795C for 10 mins.

The warm-glass schedule says 760C for 10mins.

I'm happy to experiment but like somewhere sensible to start. I'd rather under fire than over fire.

TIA

Rachael
Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: Lakelady on November 20, 2014, 11:44:43 AM
As all kilns are slightly different, you might have to tweak schedules but this is a good starting point for Bullseye  :)
http://fusedglass.org/tools/firing_schedules (http://fusedglass.org/tools/firing_schedules)
Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: marklaird on November 20, 2014, 06:39:27 PM
In my SC2 I tack fuse at 725 which seems to work for me. As lakelady said every kiln is different
Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: Zeldazog on November 20, 2014, 08:46:35 PM
If your full fuse happened at 795, then 760 should be a good tack fuse temperature, I usually do my tack fusing around there.

Edited to add - tack fusing really can happen across a big range of temperatures, as it can be anything from the glass only just stuck together and still really well defined edges, through to softer, but still defined but not yet full fused.

However, if you're unsure, just fire a small amount of glass to that temperature first, the kiln should only cost about 80pence to fire a full schedule, so better than ruining your glass project.

Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: RLBrown on November 20, 2014, 09:12:39 PM
Thanks for the ideas.

The kiln has been set to go to 760 over night so I guess I'll see what the result is mid morning tomorrow. :-)
Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: SallyR on November 21, 2014, 03:05:55 PM

Probably a big late to help, but I've got a Hobbyfuser too and tack at 760 deg for 12 minutes - didn't feel 10 mins was quite enough for what I wanted. Hope your test works ok.
Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: RLBrown on November 22, 2014, 09:42:00 AM
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7552/15227659184_d2a921bf08_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pcBJy1)IMG_20141121_173701468 (https://flic.kr/p/pcBJy1) by R L Brown (https://www.flickr.com/people/123678277@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/15664170187_978e067611_q.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pSbY4M)IMG_20141121_164802699 (https://flic.kr/p/pSbY4M) by R L Brown (https://www.flickr.com/people/123678277@N07/), on Flickr

Hope the photos work (after the 5th attempt).

I chose 760 for 10 mins and the effects are good enough for this batch. Apart from the wire fell out of the larger hanger - oh well.

Next time I might try the 12 mins.
Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: Pat from Canvey on November 22, 2014, 11:22:13 AM
It looks to me that the hanger for the larger piece wasn't in quite as far as the others and that might be the reason it fell out. Also when I was putting in hangers,(many moons ago) I used to prop up the hanger so that it lay horizontal to the piece being fused. Your pieces are good results and I expect you've learned a lot from it. I've just done a drop out for the first time in a new kiln and I've learned from that too. ::)  ::)  ::)
Title: Re: Lowest temperature for a tack fuse?
Post by: RLBrown on November 22, 2014, 11:35:32 AM
Yes I think the hanger was a bit short so it pushed the glass bit off balance. I'm going to keep that piece for when I have a drill.

I've also seen hangers propped up with fibre paper so I might try that too.